Air circulating device



Oct. 3, 1944. w, MOLENEGAN 2,359,571-

AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 1', 19 42 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig] 2 w-V---.--\ 1 3M -58 I I I Inventor: David W. Mc Lenegan,

by Haw 62% His Attorney. v

Oct. 3, 1944. D.- M LENEGAN 2,359,571

' AIRCIRCULATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1, 194 2 Inventor: D'avid W. McLenegan,

. Hi5 Attorney Patented Oct. 3, 1944 AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE David W. McLenegan, Caldwell, N. 1., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 1, 1942, Serial No. 425,329

14 Claims. (Cl. 98-434) My invention relates to air circulatingdevices and particularly to such devices which may be mounted in a window opening .for blowing air into or out of a room and for circulating air therein.

It is an object of my invention to provide an air circulating apparatus including an improved arrangement for selectively operating the apparatus to admit fresh air to a room or to discharge I stale air therefrom.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a r simple and compact apparatus for admitting fresh air or a. mixture of recirculated'and fresh air to a room, or for discharging stale air, from a room. 7 7

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my' invention reference may behadto the accompanying drawings in which'Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a ventilator embodying my invention illustrating the position of the ventilator in the window opening; Fig. 2 .is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, of the ventilator shown in Fig/1; Figs. 4, 5 and6 are diagrammatic sectional views taken through the righthand blower housing of Fig. 3 and illustrating three positions of the control damper, and Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the damper employed in the ventilator. r

Briefly, the apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a casing arranged to be mounted in: a window opening and having a longitudinallyiarranged cylindrical portion extending within the room. The casing is provided with an opening outside the .room for communication with the outside air, with a central openingfor receiving room air and with two side openings for discharging air into the room. Within the casing are arranged two centrifugal blowers and a cylindricalv damper mounted for rotation about the blowers and so constructed that the position of the damper determines the path of air through the apparatus. In one position'of the damper air is circulated directly from the outside opening through the blowers and into the room. In

another position air from the room is circulated through the blowers and returned to the room. Positionsintermediate these two positions provide for theadr'nission to the room of various either side of the opening- H for discharging air into thejrooms'. The construction and arrange-- mixtures of fresh air and recirculated air. In another position room air is taken intothe apparatus anda portion of the room airis discharged to the outdoors through the-outdoor air opening, while the remaining portion is returned to the room. All the air admitted to the apparatus is cleaned by' a filter mounted on the cylindrical damper, and the damper constitutes the sole control for determining the pathsof the apparatus. I Y

' Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. l I have .shown a ventilating apparatus comprisinga casing Ill arranged to be mounted in a window opening asindicated by thedotted lines, the portion ofthe casing shown being on the inside ofthe room tobe ventilated. -The casing is provided" with a central louvered opening II for admitting room airto i'.h'e.t.=asinfand with openings 12 on ment of the 'parts of'the ventilating apparatus are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The casing I0 is symmetricalabouta central vertical plane and comprises endwalls [3 provided with steps or shoulders I 4 which receive the ends of the side walls of the casing. The end walls are substantially' circular withinthe room and are provided. with extensions arranged to project through" the.

window opening. The side walls comprise a rear casing section [5 and three front sections including a. central section I6 and lateral sections I! on either side thereof, and section I 6" being spaced from the lateral sections radially of the longitudinal axis ofthe unit. Thesections 'lfi and l 1- form a substantially cylindrical portion of the casing. A bottom wall l8 extends between the end walls and is arranged to rest on the window sill as indicated bythe'dotte'd lines in Figs.

1 and 2. The back wall l5 extends to the lower edge of the rear projections of the end walls]! and an opening 15a is provided between the edge of the back l5 and the edge of the botton'i wall I B so that the interiorofthe casing communicates with the atmosphere outside the room. j Two centrifugal blowers comprising scrollsIo'r housings l9, and impellers 20 are arranged at the ends of the casing adjacent the opening lz. I within the side wall portions H, the scrolls 19 being mounted onshoulders 2| formed on the wooden end walls. A motor 22 is provided to drive the the air through supports 25, anda third bolt or longitudinal support 25a is provided above the motor to cooperate with the bolts 25 and hold the blower housings 'rigidlyin position. Each of the blower housings provided with an inlet opening 28 and front and rear outlet openings 21 and 28, i'espectiveiy, the opening 21 being adjacent the casing openings lzrso that air 'may be' discharged from blowersthroughthe openings II to" the room,

and the openings 28' are arranged to communithrough the rear opening lie between the bottom wall I I and the back wall IS.

the space between the impellers ,and the blower housings approximates that within the conven- =tiona1 centrifugal blowers having scrolls formed as involutes, and the housings are formed to proyide cutofl's 29 adjacent the front outlets :21,

In order to control theadmission and discharge oi air rrom the 'casing'and to determine the direction otiiiow'ofair therethrough, I'provide a substantially cylindrical damper 30 surrounding the blower housings and journaled for rotation" thereon, pads of felt or similar'materiali lfbe- V ing provided onthe blower housings'to 'mini-,

mi'ze noise and to serve as bearing surfaces for the damper. The de'tailsof construction of the damper 30 are clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. The

damper '88 lies' closely'adjacgnt the casing wall l5 along a line iorm'ed-by' an angle piece orcorner'32 inthe'wall fi, the angle 'piece 32 serving to separate the upper portion of the casing'into two sections one's'ection"communicating'with the foutdoors through the opening'fbetween' the walls I5 and [8,-and the other section communicating handle being connected to the damper 30 by 03- l ,set members fl arranged toextend through'the' space between the casing portions l8 andl l.' jl'I'he V The shaft; 1 which drives impellers 28 is. displaced slightly from the'center of the blower housings so that" the room, and the remaining portion is discharged to the room through the opening 21. By raising the handle 33 in a counterclockwise direction to its position shown in Fig. 5, theportion 35 of the damper is moved over the opening a 28 sothat this opening is closed. Air is then admitted to the inlet chamber through the filter 7 cate with the atmosphere outside, theroom-j *with thezJoOm through theopening II. A han- T die as, is provided to'rotate the riom erao the damper 30 is provided "with portions (which extend over the width of the housingsrfl beyond portions oi the damper-which surround the housings; l8 and provide the bearing surfaces for;the damper. Theextensions 3501 the damporder to, admit airto the inlet chamber the damperI30is providedjwith an opening 31 in which is mounted a suitable airfcleaning screen or filter 3a.v By suitably. positioning .the damper 30 ,air

may be admitted to the inletchamber either from .the' room or from the atmosphere. outside the room, and in; intermediate positions; air from both sources may be admitted tc'fthe inlet cham-" bertf ln 'the'se intermediate positions portions of theffilter -li -iflonfboth sides oi the angle 32 of the rear wall l5. I J i In Figs. 4; Sand 6 I have shown sectional views :er are arranged to close the opening 28 when.v thei han dl'eji is rotated in a counterclockwisedirction to its positionas'shown in Fig. 5. v

The centralfportion or the; damper which. extends betweenthe two blower housings l8 provides aninletchambenbetween the blowers in communication with the-blower inlets 26. In

therefore, desire my invention to be limited to 88 as 'beforehut is discharged only to the room 5 7 through the opening 21, this being the for recirculating air within the room; 7 V

'When it is desired to ventilatethe room by admitting fresh air, the handle 33 is moved in .a

Position i counterclockwise direction to its uppermost'position as shown in Fig. 6. g'Ihe'opening 31 and filter 88 are then on the outdoor side of. the,

apparatus, and outside'air is admitted to the inlet chamber from the outdoor opening 15a and through the filter. The portion. 35 of-thedamper'closes the opening 28 so that'the fresh air' admitted to the" inlet chamber .is-discharged solely "through the opening 21. and is admitted totheroom. i

The handle '33 may bemov'ed to any'desired position between its positionsas shown in Figs.

5 and 6, and the opening .80 will then beinc'om-V munication with both the outdoors and the room,

and a mixture'of room and outdoor air will be admitted through the inlet chamber and discharged to the room, the outlet"28'oi the blower 7 remaining closed.

'From the foregoing it'is readily apparentfthat by a single operation ofjsele'ctively positioning the damper 30' the apparatus maybe made to;

perform any. one oi a plurality of'functions. It may be made to remove stale or vitlated air from the room by, positioning the damper as shown in Fig.- 4 'or toventilate the roomby ,admitting solely fresh 'air tothe blowersas shown in Fig.

6, or it maybe made-to circulate air withinjthe room by positioningit as'shown' in Fig. 5, and

a mixture of fresh air and room airlmay becirculated into the room by placing the damper in positions "intermediate those shown. in g'Figs. 5 and 6. o

From the foregoing itis readily apparent that,

I have providedan improved apparatus of simple' construction with} a, minimum number or. 8 moving parts-tor performing'any one of a num-f her or diflferent air circulatingfunctions.

Whiie'I" have described my invention in corn nection with a particular form of ventilating apt paratus,rother applications will readily be ap'- parentto those skilled inthe art. I do not,

the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit andfsco'pe of my invention;

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by 7 Letters Patent of the United State's is: n a

1. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for i circulating air therein 'includingfla casing having therein an opening arranged to communicate with through the right-hahdblower housing. I9 with the damper 38 in three diflerent positions; In 7 Fig. 4 the damper is in the same position as 'in'Figsrl to 3. In this positionair is admitted to'the inlet, chamber'from the opening] l and .through the nlter' 38 and ente'rs' the blower through the opening. .Axportion of thisroom air is discharged from the" blower through the opening "and passes to 'theatmosphere outside the atmosphere outside the mom and a room air inlet opening and aroomair outlet opening, a blower arrangedin'saidr casingahd including a. I stationary housing having an air inlet communicating with said first mentionediopening and a first air outlet communicatingswith said room air outlet opening and a second .air outlet-arranged 1 V to communicate with the atmosphere outside the roomfand a single-movable=damper havingportions arranged to cooperate with said openings and with the inlet and outlets or said'blower to" control the passage or air therethrough and selectively operable to one position for directing air from outside the room through saldblower and into the room through said first outlet, and to another position for directing air from said room air inlet opening and through said blower to the atmosphere outside the room through said second outlet.

2. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein an opening arrang d to communicate with the atmosphere outside the'room and a room air inlet opening and a room air outlet opening, a

blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air'inlet communicating with said first mentioned opening and a first air outlet communicating with said room air outlet opening and a second air outlet arranged to communicate with the atmosphere outside the room, and a single movable damper having pOrtions arranged to cooperate with said openings and with the inlet and outlets of said blower to control the passage of air, therethrough and selectively operable to one position for directingair from outside the room through said blower and into the room through said first outlet and to another position for directing into said blower air from .said room air inlet opening, said damper when in said last mentioned position being so arranged that one portion of the air entering said blower is returned to the room through said first.

air outlet and another portion of the air enters ing said blower is discharged simultaneously to the atmosphere outside said room through said second outlet of said blower.

3. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein includinga casing having therein an opening arranged to communicate with the atmosphere outside the room and a room air inlet opening and a room air outlet opening, a blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air inlet communicating with said first mentioned opening and a first air outlet communicating with said room air outlet opening and a second air outlet arranged to communicate with the atmosphere outside the room, and a single movable damper having portions arranged to cooperate withsaid openings and withthe inlet and outlets of said blower to control the passage of air therethrough and selectively operable to one position for directing air from outside the room through said blower and into the room and to another position for directing air into said blower from said room air inlet opening and for discharging the air to the atmosphere outside the room, said damper being operable to an intermediate position for directing air both from the atmosphere outside the room and from the room through said blower and into the room.

4. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing'having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside of the room and havin second and third openingsgafor communication with the room, a blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air inlet and two air outlets, and a substantially cylindrical damper rotatably arranged within said casing and around said blower and having a portion for controlling the admission of air to said blower inlet and another portion for controlling the passage of air from saidblower, said damper being operable to one position where air is drawn into said air inlet from said first opening and is discharged to the room fromone of said outlets through said second opening and operable to a second position where air enters said air inlet from said third opening andis discharged to the atmosphere outside the room through the other 'of said air outlets. V

5. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside the room and having second and third openings for communication with the room, a blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, and means including a damper arranged, within said casing and forming a chamber about said inlet and having an opening therein for admitting air to the chamber formed thereby for controlling the passage of air through said apparatus, said damper being rotatably mounted to bring the opening therein into communication selectively with said first and third openings and being operable to one position where air is drawninto said chamber from said first opening and is discharged to the room from said outlet through said second opening and operable to a position where air enters said chamber from said third opening and is discharged to the room through said second opening.

6. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside of the room and having second and'third openings for communication,

with the room, a blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air inlet and two air outlets, and means including a damper arranged within said casing and forming a chamber about said inlet and having an opening therein for admitting air to the chamber formed thereby for controlling the passage of air through said apparatus, saiddamper' being rotatably mounted and being operable toone position where air is drawn into said chamber from said first opening and is discharged to the room from one of said outlets through said second opening and operable to a second position where air enters said chamber from said third opening and is discharged to the atmosphere outside the room through the other of said air outlets.

7. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside of the room and having second and third openings for communication with the room, a blower arranged in said casing and including a stationary housing having an air inlet 'and two air outlets, and a substantially cylindrical damper rotatably arranged within said casing and around said blower and providing an inlet chamber for said blower, said damper having an opening therein for admitting air to the inlet chamber and having a portion'for controlling the passage of air through at least one of said blower outlets and being operable to one opening and is discharged to the atmosphere outside the room through the other of said air outlets.

8. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication with they atmosphere outside of the room and having second and third openings for communication with the room, a blower arranged in said casin'g and including a stationary housing having an air inlet and two air outlets, and a damper rotatably arranged within said casing and around said blower and providing an inlet chamber for said blower, said damper having an opening therein through which alltheair flowing to 'the said inlet chamber must now and having a portion for controlling the passage of air through at least one of said blower outlets, said damper being operable to one position where air is drawn into said inlet chamber .from said first opening and is discharged to the room from, one of 'said outlets through said second opening and operable to a second position where air enters said air inlet from said third openingcand is discharged to the atmosphere outside the room through the. other of said air outlets'and operable to a third position where air enters said. chamber from said first and third openings and is discharged to the room from said one of said outlets through said second opening, and a filter mountedon said damper for filtering the air passing through.

said opening in said damper to said inlet chamber whereby all the air entering said blower is filtered.

9. An air circulating apparatus including a casing having first, second and third'openings V therein, said first and third openings being arranged to communicate with different air spaces,

and said second opening being arranged to communicate with one of said spaces, a blower having a stationary substantially cylindrical housing arranged within said casing and having an air inlet and an air outlet, said outlet being arranged in communication with said second opening, a substantially cylindrical damper journaled on the outer cylindrical walls of said blower housing and providing an inlet chamber about said blower. inlet, said damper having an opening therein for admitting air to said inlet chamber and being rotatable to one position where all is admitted to said inlet chamber from said first opening and is discharged from said casing through said second opening and rotatable to a second position where air is admitted to said chamber from said third opening and is discharged from said casing through said second opening. j

l o'A'n air circulating apparatus including a Y casing having first, second and third'openings- 'stherein, said first and third openings being arranged to communicate with difierent air spaces and said second opening being arranged to" mounted on the outer cylindrical wall of said' housing, for controlling the passage of air through said apparatus, said damper having an opening therein foradmitting air to said inlet chamber and having a portion for controlling said other outlet of said blower, said damper being operable to one position for admitting air to said blower from said first opening and for discharging air through said second opening and being operable to a second position for admitting air to said chamber from said third opening and for discharging air through said other outlet of said blower.

11. An apparatus for ventilating aroom and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication withthe atmosphere outside the room and hav ing a second opening for the admission of air to the casing from the room and outlet openings on either side of said second opening for v the discharge of air into the room, a pair of axially spaced centrifugal blowers arranged in said casing and having substantially cylindrical housings each provided with an inlet and a first outlet and a second outlet, and a substantially cylindrical damper arranged to surround a portion of said housings and journaled for rotation on said housings for controlling the circulation of air through said casing, said damper being operable to one position for directing air from said first openingthrough said first outlets of said blowers to theroom through said outlet openings and being operable to a second position for directing air from said second opening through said blowers to theatmosphere outside the room through said second outlets of said blowers.

12. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a, casing hav; ing therein a first opening ,for communication with the atmosphere outside the room and having a second opening for the admission of air to the casing from the room and outlet openings on 1 either side of said second opening for vthe discharge of air into the room,v a pair of axially spaced centrifugal-blowers arranged in said casing and having substantially cylindrical housings each provided with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of said blowers being arranged in com munication with said outlet openings. of said casing, a substantially cylindrical damper arranged to surround a .portion of said housings and journaled for rotation on said housings for controlling the circulation of air through said casing, said damper forming an inlet chamber adjacent the inlets of said blowers and having an opening therein for admitting air to said chamber, said damper 'being operable to one position for directing air from said first opening and, through said chamber to the room through said outlet open-1 ings and being operable to a second position for directing air from said second opening through said chamber to the room through said outlet opening, and a filter mounted on said damper adjacent the opening therein for filtering the air admitted to said inlet chamber.

13. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing" having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside the room and having a second opening for the admission of air to the casing from the room and outlet openings on either side of said second opening for the dis charge of air into the room, a pair of axially spaced centrifugal blowers arranged in said cos ing and having substantially cylindricalhousings each provided with an inlet'and a first outlet and a second outlet, a substantially cylindrical damper arranged to surround a portion of said housings and journaled for rotation on said housings for controlling the circulation of air, through said casing, saiddamper forming an inlet chamber between said housings and having an opening therein for admitting air to the chamber, said damper being operable to one position for directing air from said first opening through said inlet chamber to the room through said first outlets of said blowers and being operable to a second position for directing air from said second opening into said chamber and through said blowers to the room through said outlet openings and being operable to a, third position for directing air from said second opening through said chamber and through said second outlets of said blowers to the atmosphere outside the room.

14. An apparatus for ventilating a room and for circulating air therein including a casing having therein a first opening for communication with the atmosphere outside the room and having a second opening for the admission of air to the casing from the room and outlet openings on either side of said second opening for the discharge of air into the room, a pair of axially spaced centrifugal blowers arranged in said casing and having substantially cylindrical housings each provided with a inlet and a first outlet and a second outlet, a substantially cylindrical damper arranged to surround a portion of said housings and journaled for rotation on said housings for controlling the circulation of air through said casing, said damper forming an inlet cham ber between said housings and having an opening therein for admitting air to,the chamber, said damper being operable to one position for directing air from said first opening through said inlet chamber to the room through said first outlets of said blowers and being operable to a second .position for directing air from said second opening into said chamber and through said blowers to the room through said outlet openings and being operable to a third position for directing air from said second opening'through said inlet chamber and out of the casing through both outlets of both of said blowers, said damper beingv adjustable to positions intermediate said first and second positions for admitting to said inlet chamber air from both of said first and second openings of said casing.

DAVID W. McLENEGAN. 

